First post and need some guidance from the veterans here!

First off what a great site! I'm in the very beginning stages of looking for the car I've wanted since childhood, A "Ferrari"! After looking at all the models I think the 348 ts is the car that I truly want. Now guys, as I'm searching for the right car, what do I look for so that I don't make a mistake and buy a maintenance nightmare that I can't afford to drive. I tried searching the archives, as to not waste anyones time, but didn't see to much. I hope I'm in the right place. I think I can afford to buy it but won't have a ton left over for service, thus HELP in what to look for so I don't buy a problem. Thanks much in advance! John

 

I think this link will answer a whole lot of questions for you.

http://club348.com/technical/Tech/348.html

Happy reading.

 

Perfect, looks like I have plenty to read....

 

Perfect, looks like I have plenty to read....

 

I'm no owner but if you can only really afford the car then I think your looking in the wrong place. These cars cost a lot in maintenance, even if you buy a very good example it is still a 15-20 year old car and will need service. I would definitely look into the cost of the maintenance and insurance and everything else and add it all up and see if you can still afford the car. I would also look at the 308s and 328s as they are always suggested for a first time owner.

 

Welcome to Ferrarichat!!! You have definitely come to the right place to discuss anything Ferrari related.

I think the 348 will be an excellent first Ferrari, as you have already mentioned make sure you find a nice one with good history and get a good PPI done with a person who knows not only Ferrari's but the 348 model well.
Take your time to look, the search is a lot of fun. Driving loads of different cars will be an experience in its self.

 

http://www.theferrari348.com/

Also, a thread I created elsewhere about the 348

http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&t=582925&nmt=Ferrari%20348%20-%20info%20thread

 

welcome, and all the above seem correct.

1. You do need to set aside $$ for maintenance if you farm it out: otherwise you'll need to put off retirement as part of the budget.

2. Get the car you want, just read up on it, to know what you are getting into.

The link to the 348 site is good primer. That engine is solid.

Know the maintenance on that car can be just as equal to older 3x8 cars. The initial cost for the major seems daunting but keeping up with the gremlins, out-of-sorts on the older models makes the two, IMO, about equal on the bottom line over time.

good luck.

 

I can't thank you guys enough for all the material. Maranello, point well taken and understood, I just figured if I could avoid a bad car by asking questions I might be able to join the club. I've heard the "if you can afford to buy one then you better be able to maintain it" phrase and agree. I just don't want to have to maintain it before I get it home if you know what I mean......

 

I dunno, quite a few seem to want an introduction to your wrench, just to "get to know ya better" up front . Maybe due to slightly different driving patterns/use? But if you've got the time, they're pretty simple cars to work on, with no computer degree required, nor hydraulics expertise.

Despite what the 308/328 camp says, I think 348's also make good (and only!) Ferrari's. But I'm one of the believers that the only step up from a 348 is a 288.

The market seems slow, and it's only going to get slower as the weather starts to turn, so take your time. A strong local car was for sale here;
http://ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=210772
Might still be available if you're interested.

If you're not an expert, then a PPI from an unbiased expert is the cheapest insurance you can buy. As an example, I had a clean 348 spider I was quite interested in that just needed a tune-up and new tires. Once the PPI was done, that car was 1) not allowed back on the road by the mechanic, 2) in a shop for a long time 3) still not completely fixed properly but could be "sold".

Good luck, and take your time!

 

What he said. Even if you get a good car, it's not unusual to find a few thousand dollars' worth of stuff that needs attending to. That goes for any Ferrari I can think of, except one under warranty. If you find the current copy of Forza magazine (October 2008), Michael Sheehan has a buyer's guide on the 348/355/360 that highlights some of the major 348 issues.

I don't know, the 308/328 crew are a savvy bunch. Don't be surprised if one of them shows up and tries to steer you in that direction -- they're pretty shameless.

 

I don't want to be a traitor, but at least "try" a good 328. They're a really great car. I owned a 1988 328 GTB (Euro). More power (270 hp), more refined, and better sorted than the 308 GTXi/308 GTX QV series. The parts are, comparatively, less expensive than the 348 (especially the interior electronics). In addition, they are the last Ferrari that you can, if properly skilled and motivated, do all of the work on yourself with relative ease. It certainly wouldn't hurt to at least drive one.
Just to reiterate what has already been stated, spend the necessary money on a good, complete PPI (including compression/leakdown tests). In the end it will end-up saving you a lot of $$$, trouble, and heart-ache!

 

The 348 is an excellent choice very sexy very fast very Ferrari my advise do you homework find out all you can about each model and each year of production they are all different to some degree.

Then choose style TB TS GTB GTS SPIDER SS CHALANGE you have lots to choose from I suggest 93 and newer good luck.

Finally make your move to the finner side of life and do as they say drive it like you stole it...

 

Hey guys, well I read the info provided by the link that Ernie provided and ya I printed the whole 114 pages. ( My wife thinks I'm nuts). At any rate, I looked at two 348's in the area last week and without the info provided here I wouldn't have had a clue what to look for nor the questions in which to ask the salesman. Ready set.... GO! The first car was a white 1992 T/S 23xxx mi--observations and a conclusion: the showroom was very dark and I actually needed to get a flashlight to look in the engine compartment. The drivers seat was loose and shifted side to side, the drivers side of the engine had all the paint peeling from the head and the O2 sensor was quite sooted. The outside of the car on the drivers side of the engine compartment appeared to have overspray as though the car was painted but only on the outside of the fin. The interior of the car was very clean with no noticeable wear marks in the leather. I went to the passenger side of the car and to the kick plate and found it loose with the two fasteners missing and what appeared to be condensation marks around the fuse block. The rear window appeared to have lost it's seal and had what appeared to be separation in the glass. Is this a laminated deal? Anyway, I was advised to check "CARFAX" to see if the car had it's "Major" done, I thought WOW.. Your kidding...Now that being said I'm not sure the salesman knew what was in front of him and the questions I posed were based on you guys and the information I have obtained here which was obviously overwhelming to a very nice guy who was simply trying to sell me a car. I thought , well I'm not ready to buy a car yet anyway, so I got the first lesson. Awesome!
I thank the gentleman for his time and leave.. Now this is where it get interesting, On my way home I pass a Porsche dealer who has a 308GTSI sitting in front of the showroom as well as a Mondial. I thought well, go look. The 308 was an absolute mess, top leaked, carpet wet from the days rain etc etc. Not the car I'm interested in anyway. BUUUUUT sitting in the showroom is a Red/Tan 1994 348 Spider 24,xxx. So I go in and ask about the car. This guy goes from 1-10 in the "ERNIE" check list and goes to his office and produces all the records from the cars birth...1992--47k, 1994 59k. I thought this was high but then again who am I to say in light of the fact that I can't,( well I really could but wont) buy it now anyhow, as this had been a lifetime dream and quite frankly I'm not ready yet. Can't wait for the day I can post here and say the trigger got pulled! The latter was clean as a whistle but I really want a T/S.

Thanks again,
John

 

Nice job...Information is your friend. Its awefully hard to walk away from one of these beauties isn't it. Keep you sight set high. You will find her.

 

Saint--The latter was tough the former, well..